George Smith in sensational comeback

Australia – including all three Tests against the 2001 British Lions – and will win his 111th cap against the tourists at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. The 32-year-old’s surprise selection sees incumbent openside Michael Hooper dropped to the bench in the only change to the starting line-up from the side that beat the Lions 16-15 in Melbourne last weekend.

Liam Gill, the third openside in the squad, misses out – a tough call on a player whose late line-out steal played a major role in Australia winning the second test last weekend.
“The decision to go with George in no way reflects any dissatisfaction with the way either Michael or Liam have played,” coach Robbie Deans said in a news release. But it has been a tough series – the first two games have been rugged, especially at the breakdown, and we feel that the combination of experience and fresh legs that George brings is the right way to go for this week. His expertise in the contact zone, where timing, judgment and physicality is everything, is going to be critical.”

Loose forward Ben McCalman is named on the bench as cover for blindside flanker and No 8 in the only other addition to the squad.
Coach Robbie Deans has gambled on a 6-2 split in favour of the forwards on the bench with only backup scrumhalf Nick Phipps and uncapped fullback Jesse Mogg to cover the backline.

Even with three backs on the bench in the 23-21 first test defeat in Brisbane, the Wallabies were left shorthanded after three backs went off injured with Hooper ending up playing in the centres.

Once one of the best openside flankers in the world, Smith stormed back into contention for this year’s Lions tour on the back of some brilliant performances for the ACT Brumbies.

He looked like being ruled out by a knee injury on the eve of the initial squad announcement but a remarkably quick recovery saw him called into the squad after the first test defeat.

Australia: 15-Kurtley Beale, 14-Israel Folau, 13-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12-Christian Leali’ifano, 11-Joe Tomane, 10-James O’Connor, 9-Will Genia, 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-George Smith, 6-Ben Mowen, 5-James Horwill (capt), 4-Kane Douglas, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16-Saia Fainga’a, 17-James Slipper, 18-Sekope Kepu, 19-Rob Simmons, 20-Ben McCalman, 21-Michael Hooper, 22-Nick Phipps, 23-Jesse Mogg. – Reuters.